The Law Handbook 2024

794 Section 8: Disability, mental illness and the law Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) Level 1, 204 Lygon Street, Carlton Vic 3053 Tel: 1300 309 337 Email: opa_advice@justice.vic.gov.au Web: www.publicadvocate.vic.gov.au The OPA provides guardianship and advocacy services for people with disability living in Victoria. Positive Powerful Parents Victoria Web: www.voicestogether.com.au/self-advocates/find- group/vic/positive-powerful-parents-victoria/ Positive Powerful Parents is a self-advocacy group run by and for parents with a cognitive impairment. Regional Disability Advocacy Service 132 Melbourne Road, Wodonga Vic 3690 Tel: 1800 250 292 Email: admin@rdas.org.au Web: rdas.org.au RDAS is a non-government, not-for-profit charity that assists people with disability (including family members and carers), living in North East Victoria. Reinforce Level 2, Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Vic 3000 Tel: 9650 7855 Email: info@reinforce.org.au Web: www.reinforce.org.au Reinforce is a self-advocacy association for intellectually disabled citizens in Victoria. Rights Information and Advocacy Centre Tel: 5222 5499 Email: referrals@riac.org.au Web: riac.org.au Based in Shepparton, RIAC provides advocacy services for people with disabilities and special needs, and their families, across regional Victoria. Self Advocacy Resource Unit (SARU) Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Vic 3000 Tel: 9639 6856 Email: info@saru.net.au Web: www.saru.net.au SARU supports Victorian disability advocacy groups. Social Security Rights Victoria (SSRV) Tel: 9481 0355; 1800 094 164 Web: www.ssrv.org.au SSRV is a community legal centre that provides assistance with social security (Centrelink) legal matters to residents of Victoria. Southern Disability Advocacy Tel: 9533 5977 Email: info@southernda.org.au Web: southernda.org.au SDA provides free advocacy services for people with disabilities, protecting their rights and interests. South West Advocacy Association 45 Hider Street, Warrnambool Vic 3280 Tel: 5561 4584 Email: admin@swadvocacy.com.au SWAA is a community-based organisation, helping people with disability. STAR Victoria Room 3.11 Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Vic 3000 Tel: 9650 2730 Email: info@starvictoria.org.au Web: www.starvictoria.org.au STAR advocates for people with a cognitive impairment and their families. Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disability (VALID) 34 Stanley Street, Collingwood, VIC 3066 Tel: 9416 4003 Web: www.valid.org.au VALID advocates for Victorians with disabilities. Victorian Disability Services Commissioner (DSC) Level 30, 570 Bourke Street, Melbourne Vic 3000 Tel (general enquiries): 1300 728 187 Tel (complaints hotline): 1800 677 342 Email: contact@odsc.vic.gov.au Web: www.odsc.vic.gov.au The DSC works with people with disability to resolve complaints about disability service providers.